The Walt Disney Company has entered a landmark strategic partnership with OpenAI, including a $1 billion equity investment in the AI developer. As part of the three-year agreement, OpenAI receives licensing rights that allow users of its AI-video platform Sora—as well as ChatGPT’s image-generation tools—to incorporate more than 200 iconic Disney characters into short, AI-generated videos. This includes figures from Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and classic Disney franchises. At the same time, Disney becomes a major enterprise customer of OpenAI and plans to deploy its technologies internally via APIs and ChatGPT integrations.
Starting in early 2026, users will be able to create such videos, share them across social platforms or make selected content available on Disney+. Licensing for actors’ likenesses or original voices remains excluded to protect personality rights and copyrighted material. Disney stresses that the initiative aims for a responsible use of AI—expanding creative possibilities while safeguarding artistic integrity.
The move marks a significant shift in Disney’s stance. While the company previously took legal action against unauthorized AI use of its intellectual property, it is now embracing a cooperative approach to position itself in the generative-AI landscape. For Disney, the partnership opens new revenue opportunities and strengthens innovation efforts at a time when competition in the entertainment sector is intensifying.
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